ince the nature of
geosciences research is global, the Directorate for Geosciences (GEO) also
supports international collaborations and partnerships. In addition to the
research programs supported through GEO's three Divisions Atmospheric,
Earth and Ocean Sciences the Directorate also supports several international,
multi-disciplinary activities. This support is "in kind" as well as financial,
and ranges from small planning grants to administrative support to full
research projects.
The three regional institutes for global change research Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research, European Network for Research on Global Change and Asia-Pacific Network for Global Change Research were created to facilitate the integration of global change research programs on a regional basis. Each of the various institutes/networks are at a different point in their evolution and U.S. participation also varies. The Inter-American Institute for Global Change Research (IAI) was designed to facilitate the flow of scientific resources and data across borders for the benefit of all participants, and ultimately to enrich the information available to policymakers in all member countries to assist in the formulation of policies related to global change. The scientific agenda of the IAI is currently focused on four themes that were selected as being regionally relevant and globally significant, while lending themselves to a multinational research program. The IAI current research themes are:
1. Understanding
Climate Variability in the Americas
2. Comparative Studies
of Ecosystems, Biodiversity, Land Use, and Water Resources in the Americas
3. Changes in the
Compoisition of the Atmosphere
4. Integrated Assessments,
Human Dimensions, and Applications The NSF Program Director for IAI is Dr. Paul Filmer and he can be reached via e:mail at pfilmer@nsf.gov or by telephone at (703) 292-7858. The European Network for Research on Global Change (ENRICH) was established to pursue a major coherent European contribution to international actions on global change research. While considering the needs of the European Community (EC), and the European Union (EU) and EFTA Member States, ENRICH aims to support the knowledge base for the development of EU policy objectives. It intends to do so by acting as a clearinghouse for the exchange of information and by promoting cooperation in research and capacity building. In addition to promoting collaboration in Western Europe (EU and EFTA), ENRICH also aims to encourage the endogenous research capabilities in developing countries mainly, but not exclusively in Africa and the Mediterranean Basin and to promote support for relevant research initiative in the countries of Central and Eastern Europe and the New Independent States of the former Soviet Union (NIS). The NSF liaison to ENRICH is Dr. Paul Filmer and he can be reached via e:mail at pfilmer@nsf.gov or by telephone at (703) 292-7858. The Asia-Pacific
Network for Global Change Research (APN) is an inter-governmental
organisation whose mission is to foster global change research in the
Asia-Pacific region, increase developing country participation in that
research, and strengthen interactions between the science community and
policy makers. The USGCRP liaison
to APN is Mr. Lou Brown and he can be reached via e:mail at lbrown@nsf.gov
or by telephone at (703) 292-7856.
The Global Learning to Benefit the Environment (GLOBE) Program is an international program designed to develop links between scientists and schoolchildren through a global information network. The National Science Foundation participates in GLOBE by providing on-going support for research, curriculum development and workshops. Funding support is provided through the Directorate for Education and Human Resources and the Directorate for Geosciences. Dr. Paul Filmer is the point of contact for GLOBE. He can be reached via e:mail at pfilmer@nsf.gov or by telephone at (703) 292-7858. The SysTem for Analysis, Research, and Training (START) program aims to develop a system of regional networks of collaborating scientists and institutions that will conduct research on regional aspects of global change; assess the causes and impacts of that change; provide relevant information to policy makers and governments; enhance the scientific capacity in developing countries by strengthening and connecting existing institutions by training global change scientists and by providing them with improved and enhanced access to data, communication technology and research results. The International Human Dimensions Programme, International Geosphere-Biosphere Programme and the World Climate Research Programme are joint sponsors of START. In some parts of the world, particularly the developing regions, the ability to conduct regional research is hampered by a lack of scientific personnel and adequate infrastructure. The START initiative is intended to enhance the indigenous capacity of these regions to participate in the various global scientific change research programs. A world-encompassing set of regions was initially identified through the START initiative some of which are being developed under other initiatives such as the IAI and ENRICH. All of the regions are important to understanding global change because each has distinctive environmental and socio-economic characteristics. Priority is given by START to establishing regional research networks in the developing world where the needs are greatest. Mr. Lou Brown is the NSF liaison to START can reached via e:mail at lbrown@nsf.gov or by telephone at (703) 292-7856. |
Directorate for Geosciences,
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